Elite16 - Gstaad, SUI - 2023

Mol/Sørum and Benesh/Partain to clash for Gstaad Elite16 gold

Norwegians and Americans will meet again after four days, now in the final in the Swiss Alps

Published 06:36, 08 Jul 2023

Bryl/Łosiak (POL) vs. Mol, A./Sørum, C. (NOR) - Semifinals #5661116

Mol and Sørum smile after their third victory in the day

Four days after meeting in the first match for both teams at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Gstaad Elite16, Norway’s Anders Mol/Christian Sørum and USA’s Andy Benesh/Miles Partain will battle again on Sunday, this time for the gold medals of the iconic tournament held in the Swiss Alps.

The two teams went undefeated in the elimination rounds on Saturday and will play for the title in the last match of the men’s tournament, at 15:00 local time (13:00 UTC), two hours before Poland’s Michal Bryl/Bartosz Łosiak and Brazil’s Andre Loyola/George Wanderley meet for bronze.

Watch the Beach Pro Tour Gstaad Elite16 live on VBTV

Chasing their third title in Gstaad, Mol and Sørum had a long day in the Swiss Alps on Saturday as they had to play three matches after finishing second in Pool A in the opening phase of the tournament – the Norwegians won FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour events in the city in 2018 and 2019.

Bryl/Łosiak (POL) vs. Mol, A./Sørum, C. (NOR) - Semifinals #5661118

Saturday's matches in Gstaad were played in a packed stadium

The Norwegians had a slim edge over Austrians Alexander Horst and Julian Hörl in the morning in the Round of 12, claiming a tight 2-0 (21-19, 23-21) victory to move forward. In the quarterfinals, in the early afternoon, the Beach Volley Vikings battled fellow Olympic medallists Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan of Qatar and pulled out another close win, triumphing 2-1 (31-33, 21-17, 15-13).

The Norwegians returned to the court a few hours later and again needed three sets (21-19, 18-21, 15-11) to knock down Bryl and Łosiak, who were undefeated entering the match, in the semifinals.

“To play three matches in one day was insane”, Sørum said. “It was super tough. Poland played really well, they're a really strong team and it's always a battle against them. Playing in the centre court is so much fun and the court helped us a lot.”

Beach Pro Tour Gstaad Elite16 – Match Schedule and Results

Because they won Pool A, Benesh and Partain had only two matches in their schedule on Saturday, both against Brazilian teams. In the first of them, in the quarterfinals, the two eliminated Pedro Solberg and Gustavo ‘Guto’ Carvalhaes with a two-set (21-19, 21-13) victory.

Partain/Benesh (USA) vs. Pedro Solberg/Guto (BRA) - Quarterfinals #5659098

Partain prepares to serve in the quarterfinals against Pedro and Guto

The outcome was similar in the second duel, against Andre and George, with Benesh and Partain producing a two-set (21-14, 21-15) win to make it to their first final in an Elite16 event – the two took bronze in Ostrava a few weeks ago.

“Andy played really well, he blocked a bunch of balls”, Partain commented. “We passed well and it’s been great that we’ve been able to run our jumpsets, that really helps. We’re not very experienced and that has been helping us offset the disadvantage. It’s amazing to make our first final in an Elite16. I grew up watching the tournaments in Gstaad and it’s amazing to be here.”